45o 
June 20 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
authorities have an arrangement with the railroads 
by which they are notified promptly of a shipment of 
all nursery stock from points outside the State, so 
that when the stock arrives at the nursery in New 
York State a representative is there to examine and 
pass upon it. chas. a. green. 
New York. 
We do not know, but we presume it must be the 
general understanding that stock is fumigated. We 
cannot speak for others. We fumigate everything 
thoroughly. We never knowingly fumigated scale. 
We burn it; but we have noticed live aphis on trees 
after the most thorough doses as prescribed by the 
experiment stations. edward reiters. 
Pennsylvania. 
I do not think the fumigation of nursery stock is 
general by any means. Many have decided that there 
have been thousands of trees hurt by it if the full 
strength is used according to instructions given years 
ago. We have lost quite heavily ourselves fumigating 
trees. Thus far there has never been a case of scale 
found on any nursery stock we have ever grown, but 
we try to be law-abiding citizens and propose to be 
so yet. J. G- HARRISON & SONS. 
Maryland. 
The nurserym.en in Tennessee did not fumigate un¬ 
til about two years ago. I think that the nurserymen 
over the State are practically all fumigating now. 
We have several nurseries here, and practically all of 
them have fumigating houses and are fumigating not 
only the stock they send out but all of the roots, 
scions and buds they are using in their nurseries. I 
consider it one of the best preventives against the 
introduction of insect pests of all kinds. I think it is 
an eifective remedy for scale, when properly done. 
Til ere is no question in my mind but that it is the 
very best preventive that can be adopted, and I con¬ 
sider that the laws of all the States ought to require 
it. It is not at all expensive when one is properly 
prepared. J* c. hale. 
Tennessee. 
We do not think the fumigation of nursery stock 
has become general except in States where required 
by law; in fact, in talking with other nurserymen we 
find a great many of them decidedly skeptical as to 
its value. Personally, we believe fumigation is an 
effective remedy for San Jos6 scale, provided it is 
properly done, though we must confess we have had 
no experience in this line, as we have never had any 
of the scale to cope with. We believe, however, that 
fumigation is advisable on nearly all nursery stock, 
whether infested with San Jos6 scale or not. There 
are frequently other insects disposed of to the advan¬ 
tage of the trees. The greatest disadvantage in fumi¬ 
gating is the fact that during the Winter so many in¬ 
sects are either In the egg or in such a condition that 
the fumes will not reach them. However, as a whole, 
we are in favor of fumigation, and apply It constantly. 
Missouri. STARK BROS. 
I believe the reliable nurserymen are fumigating 
all the fruit tree stock they .ship out. So far as the 
scale on nursery stock is concerned I believe the fumi¬ 
gation is effectual, but it is no lasting protection to 
those who buy and plant the trees. Orchards, shrubs 
and many other plants are infested with it all over 
the country and it will soon spread to all trees. 
Remedies should be applied to all trees, shrubs, etc., 
where the scale is found; otherwise it is unnecessary 
for nurserymen to go to the trouble and expense of 
fumigating their stock. It will be impossible to keep 
the scale out of nurseries when orchards, shrubs, etc., 
in the vicinity of the nurseries, covered with scale, 
are left without using the remedies for its destruc¬ 
tion. Universal destruction to the scale is the only 
sure remedy. edwtn hoyt. 
Connecticut. 
There has never been any San Jos6 scale found in 
Dansville or vicinity, so we are not in the way of 
hearing much scale talk, and the nurserymen of Dans¬ 
ville have not generally adopted fumigation. Out of 
about 40 nurserymen here only two have fumiga¬ 
tion houses, and since we have no scale there is not 
much opportunity for testing the real efficacy of our 
fumigation work. Personally we fumigate every¬ 
thing that comes on our grounds that is not grown 
in Dansville, and when requested we fumigate all 
sales for shipment. So far we are unable to see any 
benefit to our plantings from fumigation of stock. 
The fumigated seedlings seem just as subject to aphis 
and other pests as the unfumigated. Still since it 
does not hurt the stock and may do good, we keep up 
the practice. I do not believe nurserymen generally 
fumigate unless they actually have scale. I do believe 
that they honestly endeavor to .stamp it out by de¬ 
stroying the trees wherever they are found to be in¬ 
fested, and that the State inspectors are a great help 
in locating the pest and keeping it in subjection. I 
further believe that there is more danger of spread¬ 
ing the pest from orchards than from nurseries. That 
may not have been so in the past, but it seems to me 
to be so at present. From all I can learn of the lime, 
sulphur and salt treatment that seems to me to be 
more efficacious for orchard work than fumigation. 
New York. geo. a. sweet. 
We are not able to say that the fumigation of nur¬ 
sery stock is general, but our impression is that every 
year more is treated. In Maryland it is supposed to 
be done throughout the State. We would not think 
of sending out stock without its being fumigated. If 
properly done we consider it the best remedy we 
know, not only to destroy scale, but other insects. 
While there has not been so much said about it, the 
last year or two, you will find many nurserymen 
are fumigating even though their State laws do not 
make it compulsory. We feel safer to fumigate, even 
our huds before we put them in our seedlings, also 
grafts before we put them on our stocks, and fumi¬ 
gate our stocks that we graft on. Like spraying, it 
needs experience, and to be done thoroughly. It is a 
business proposition, and we consider it a good one. 
Maryland. w. m. peters’ sons. 
We think that all the leading nurserymen have 
built fumigating houses, and fumigate all trees which 
their customers ask them to, or in shipping to States 
which demand that fumigating be done under their 
laws. We suppose there is no question, from what 
the experiment stations tell us, that proper fumigation 
in properly-constructed houses will destroy the San 
Jos6 scale. It will also destroy trees that are not well 
ripened up, and it is practically impossible to fumi¬ 
gate stock for Fall shipment without injuring it more 
or less. We think the tendency among nurserymen 
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PLANS FOR GRANGE HALL. Fig. 163. 
is not to fumigate unless they have to, or only to 
fumigate perfectly dormant stock that is dug late in 
the Fall and carried over for Spring shipment. We 
believe that many of the best nurserymen are doing 
this right along. The San Jos4 scale is so generally 
disseminated over the country that we think people 
have made up their minds that it is a pest already 
here, and must be fought the same as other insects 
and diseases. the storrs & harrison co. 
Ohio. 
We do not think that fumigation of nursery stock 
for the destruction of the San Jos6 scale has become 
by any means general. Of course where nurseries 
have become infested with the scale they have been 
obliged to fumigate the stock, and a few States are 
now demanding that all stock shipped into their terri¬ 
tory shall be fumigated, but there are only a few of 
such States, though some require that stock handled 
by nurserymen in those States shall be fumigated. 
Some of the New York nurserymen have required that 
stock shipped to them be fumigated, but we do not 
think this has been the rule by any means, and where 
certificates show that stock is clean, healthy and in 
good condition we do not think there has been any 
general fumigation. We do not hear near so much 
now of the San Jos6 scale as we did a few years ago. 
People are learning to fear it less, and are learning 
better how to handle it or control it, and we think 
as their experience increases they will find it less 
troublesome to control, though to do so severe mea¬ 
sures must bejised. If fumigation is properly done it 
is doubtless a very effective remedy, but it must be 
thoroughly done, otherwise the results will only be 
partially successful. We do not think there is any 
necessity of compulsory or general fumigation, though 
where stock has become infested it certainly should 
be very thoroughly fumigated. We believe that the 
surest plan would be that all stock found infested be 
destroyed, and in fact the whole block of trees in 
which it was found, and if trees are sent out only 
from good healthy blocks free from infection there is 
no need of fumigation. albertson & hobbs. 
Indiana. __ 
THE PRIZE-WINNING GRANGE HALL. 
The picture on first page. Fig. 162, and diagrams 
shown in Fig. 163, show an ideal Grange hall, owned 
by Webster Grange. It is 82 feet long and 36 feet 
wide, two stories high. Lower hall is 15 feet between 
floor and ceiling; upper or Grange lodge room is 13 
feet. You will see from the diagram that it has all 
of the necessary conveniences for a first-class hall; 
two retiring rooms, with toilet rooms, also a com¬ 
mittee room at the right of reception room. The cost 
of this hall to build at the present price of material 
would not be less than $6,000. The lower hall is fitted 
up with a large stage with a 20-foot opening, and has 
six scenes and two drop curtains, one an advertising 
one that paid for the whole of the scenery and cur¬ 
tains; dressing rooms under stage. There are no 
posts in the lower hall; the upper floor is carried by 
four steel girders 23 inches high, leaving the lower 
hall clear from all posts, making an excellent floor 
for dancing, etc. The floor itself is hard maple. At 
the left on entering, as shown by the diagrams, is 
a kitchen; on the right Is a ticket office and store 
room. The hall has an immense cellar, and in it is 
located a steam boiler for heating the whole building, 
and it does its work to the satisfaction of all. There 
is also in the basement an acetylene gas machine 
which lights the whole building, with a large outside 
lamp in front arch over the doors, also a cistern that 
holds about 150 barrels of water in the cellar. The 
roof is covered with old-style tin. dufay wright. 
Master of Webster (N. Y.) Grange. 
SOME TRICKS OF WESTERN LAND SHARKS 
We have heard a great deal about the tricks of 
“land sharks” in the western real estate business, but 
the fact that many home-seekers from the Eastern 
and Middle States are still being swindled in these 
deals leads me to doubt whether the methods of the 
agents are as generally known as they should be. 
Some facts about these frauds have been brought to 
my notice recently which might be useful to some of 
your readers. Land companies lead us to believe that 
they have a fixed commission of $1 per acre In making 
a transaction, but in reality their limit is usually reg¬ 
ulated by their opportunity. For instance, an Illinois 
farmer who paid $7,000 for a piece of land in South 
Dakota not long since, learned after the bargain was 
closed that he had made the agent a present of $3,000, 
as he could have bought the farm directly from the 
owner for $4,000. In another deal an agent made $2,600 
on the sale of land to an eastern man at $28 an acre, 
$25 being the seller’s price. These examples show 
that home-seekers from the older States pay pretty 
dearly for the “free rides” the real estate companies 
offer to those who deal through their firms. Many 
who contemplate buying in the West will say: “Here 
is a real estate man who can show me just what I 
want. I have not the time nor money to travel in 
search of a farm.” Such buyers usually give their 
money to the agent and their time to paying off a 
mortgage. A man would do better to take a little 
time and find what he wants at a normal price, leav¬ 
ing out the unnecessary expense of a middleman’s 
commission. If money is too scarce with him he can 
hire out in almost any new farming country at fair 
wages, learning something about western farming 
and the price of land in the meantime. If he is led 
by a land agent he will be steered clear of farmers 
or anyone who will give him correct information, 
and probably be “worked” by the “cappers” who are 
hired by the dealers to go eastward a short distance 
along the railway lines and come back with land ex¬ 
cursions from farther east. They are then ready to 
play the role of land-seeker and offer bids on prop¬ 
erty which the real buyer is considering with the ob¬ 
ject of making him eager .to close the deal, being un¬ 
der the iftipression that he is in danger of losing an 
exceptional bargain. In this way he is led to invest 
in the fii’st bargain offered before time is given him 
to post himself on real values. Some dealers are far 
enough lost to honor to bribe renters or others on 
the property examined to help in the fraud, or at 
least to keep quiet and not interfere in any way with 
the sale of the place at a robber price. I know of two 
cases where the agent has hoodwinked old friends and 
schoolmates in this way. Land is sometimes bought 
by land dealers from residents in western communities 
at figures far above existing prices, with the result 
of creating fictitious values. They do not try to sell 
